Apparatus and method of removing a substance from a surface of a part

ABSTRACT

A container for sandblasting. The container includes a housing and a removable cap. The housing receives one or more parts to be sandblasted and the cap is secured to the housing to seal the parts in the housing. An inlet is provided to receive a nozzle and at least one outlet is provided to retain the parts and allow an abrasive material to exit the housing.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/779,604, filed on Mar. 6, 2006, entitled Apparatus and Method of Removing a Substance from a Surface of a Part, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Sandblasting is a technique commonly used to remove old paint, rust, dirt, and grease from metal and other surfaces. A sandblaster utilizes compressed air at high pressure to blow fine sand or other abrasive material through a nozzle. The abrasive particles eat away at the substance on the part, leaving a clean surface.

SUMMARY

Typically, small parts are placed inside of a sandblasting cabinet to remove a substance from the surface of the part. The small part(s) being in such a large area tend to fly around the inside of the cabinet, thus potentially causing damage to the part and/or cabinet. Alternatively, the parts can be handheld and individually sprayed with the abrasive material, but this method is time consuming.

One embodiment of the invention defines an apparatus comprising a housing having a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity. The apparatus also includes a first cap adapted to be received by the first end of the housing and a second cap adapted to be received by the second end of the housing. One of the first cap and the second cap can include an aperture and one of the first cap and the second cap can be removable. The apparatus also includes an aperture in the housing. The aperture is adapted to receive a nozzle, which is operable to spray media into the interior cavity and generate a vortex in the interior cavity.

Another embodiment of the invention defines a method of removing a substance from a surface of a part. The method includes the acts of positioning a part in an interior cavity of a housing and positioning a nozzle in an aperture of the housing. The method also includes the acts of dispersing media from the nozzle to the interior of the housing and generating a vortex with the media in the interior cavity. The method further includes the act of removing a substance on the surface of the part with the media.

In another embodiment the invention provides a container for sandblasting. The container includes a housing, a removable cap, an inlet, and at least one outlet. The housing is configured to receive one or more parts to be sandblasted. The cap is secured to the housing to substantially seal the housing. The at least one outlet is sized to retain the parts and to allow an abrasive material to exit the housing.

In another embodiment the invention provides an apparatus for removing a substance from a surface of a part. The apparatus includes a cylindrical housing, a cap, a nozzle, an inlet, a plurality of outlets, and a handle connected to the housing. The housing has a closed end and an open end. The open end has external screw threads. The cap has internal screw threads and is configured to screw onto the housing. The nozzle provides a flow of a mixture of air and media which creates a vortex within the housing. The inlet is positioned on the housing substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing and is configured to receive the nozzle. The plurality of outlets are positioned on the cap and configured to restrain the part and to allow the mixture of air and media to exit the housing.

In another embodiment the invention provides a method of removing a substance from a surface of one or more parts. The method includes the acts of placing the part(s) in a container having an inlet and at least one outlet, inserting a nozzle substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container into the inlet, directing a flow of air and media, from the nozzle, into the inlet, generating, by the flow of air and media, a vortex within the container, striking the part(s) with the air and media, ejecting the air and media from the container through the at least one outlet, and removing the part(s) from the container.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blasting cabinet.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a blasting device according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the blasting device illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an interior cavity of the blasting device illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the blasting device illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the blasting device illustrated in FIG. 2 utilized with the blasting cabinet of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a method of use of the blasting device illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method of use of the blasting device illustrated in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a blasting cabinet 10 used for removing a substance from a part. The blasting cabinet 10 includes a housing 18 and an interior cavity 22 formed therein. The housing 18 includes a door 26 to close off the interior cavity 22. The housing 18 also includes a window 30 adapted for viewing of the interior cavity 22. The housing 18 further includes a plurality of openings 34 for accessing the interior cavity 22 from the exterior of the blasting cabinet 10. The openings 34 include gloves 38, such that a user can insert his arms and hands into the gloves 38 to hold the part in the interior cavity 22 while the part is being blasted.

The blasting cabinet 10 also includes a nozzle 42 adapted to receive compressed air from an air compressor 46 and media 50 from a media hopper 54. The media can include many different types of materials including, without limitation, aluminum oxide, white aluminum oxide, Blasto mix, corn cob, glass beads, plastic abrasives, pumice, silicon carbide, grit, walnut shells, and a combination thereof. Still other types of material may be used for the media 50.

The blasting cabinet 10 can also include a dust collector 58 operable to collect the substances removed from the part. The blasting cabinet 10 further includes a foot pedal 62, which controls the operation of the blasting process.

In operation, large parts are positioned and supported in the interior cavity 22 of the blasting cabinet 10. The user closes the door 26 and activates the dust collector 58. The user positions his hands and arms inside the gloves 38 to access and maneuver the nozzle 42. When ready, the user depresses the foot pedal 62 to begin the blasting process. A mixture of air and blasting media exits the nozzle 42 and makes contact with the part to remove the substances on the part.

When relatively small parts are placed in the interior cavity 22 of the blasting cabinet 10 for substance removal, the small parts tend to fly around the inside of the blasting cabinet 10 due to the force of the compressed air and media making contact with the parts. The parts and/or cabinet 10 can potentially be damaged due to the parts flying around the interior cavity 22.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a device 70 for removing a substance, such as rust and/or paint, from relatively small parts. The device 70 includes a housing 74, such as a tubular structure as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3; however, the housing 74 can have other suitable configurations. The housing 74 includes a first end 78 and a second end 82. The housing 74 also includes an inlet 86 adapted to receive the nozzle 42 at an angle substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing 74. After insertion of the nozzle 42 into the inlet 86, the nozzle 42 can be moved around such that it is no longer substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing 74.

The inlet 86 can include an opening of other suitable shapes and/or size. The size of the opening can be selected to accommodate the size of the nozzle 42. For example, the size and shape of the opening for the inlet 86 can be marked or identified on the housing 74 and then cut out at the end user site to accommodate the size of the nozzle 42 to be used. In one embodiment, the inlet 86 is positioned near the first end 78 or the second end 82 of the housing 74. In other embodiments, the inlet 86 can be positioned at other suitable locations on the housing 74. In still other embodiments, the housing 74 can include a plurality of inlets 86.

The housing 74 includes at least one outlet 94. In one embodiment, the at least one outlet 94 can be positioned in the first end 78 or the second end 82 of the housing 74 opposite the inlet 86 for the nozzle 42. For example, if the inlet 86 for the nozzle 42 is positioned near the first end 78 of the housing 74, then the outlet 94 is positioned near the second end 82 of the housing 74. The openings for the outlet 94 can vary in size and shape and are not limited to the number and shape illustrated in the figures. The openings for the outlet 94 can be randomly distributed throughout the housing 74 or can be concentrated in a particular area of the housing 74. In one embodiment, the openings of the outlet 94 are positioned near one end 78 or 82 of the housing 74 and are arranged at least partially around the circumference of the housing 74.

The device 70 also includes a handle 98 connected to the housing 74 that can be used to hold, transport, and lift the device 70. The device 70 can be constructed of PVC plastic but other suitable materials and combinations of materials may also be used. For example, metal, wood, and composite materials can be used in the construction of the device 70.

The device 70 also includes a first cap 102 adapted to be received by the first end 78. It is noted that the device 70 can also include a second cap adapted to be received by the second end 82 as illustrated in FIG. 6, however, the construction of the device 70 illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 does not include a separate second cap. The device illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 is close-ended at the second end 82. The first cap 102 and the second cap can be connected, at least partially, to an interior surface of the housing 74, an exterior surface of the housing 74, and/or both. The first cap 102 and/or the second cap can be removably connected to the housing 74. In one embodiment, the first cap 102 and/or the second cap can include threads to be threadingly received in or on the first end 78 and/or the second end 82 of the housing 74. The first cap 102 and/or the second cap can be connected to the housing 74 in other ways as well. For example, the first cap 102 and/or the second cap can be connected to the housing 74 with glue, fasteners, tape, hinges, clasps, and the like. The first cap 102 can be connected to the housing 74 differently than the manner in which the second cap is connected to the housing 74. The first cap 102 and/or the second cap can be configured to include the opening 86 for the nozzle 42 and/or the at least one opening 94.

The housing 74 and the first cap 102 define an interior cavity 110 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The interior cavity 110 supports one or more part(s) 14 to be cleaned.

In one embodiment, the device 70 can be used in conjunction with the blasting cabinet 10. In another embodiment, the device 70 can be used outside of a blasting cabinet 10. In embodiments using the blasting cabinet, the user positions the parts 14 to be cleaned inside the device 70, applies the first cap 102 (and the second cap, if used) to the housing 74, and positions the device 70 in the blasting cabinet 10. The user's hands and arms are placed inside the gloves 38 to hold or support the device 70. The user then positions the nozzle 42 of the blasting cabinet 10 into the inlet 86 of the device 70 and actuates the foot pedal 62 to begin the blasting process. As the air and media exit the nozzle 42, a vortex 114 is generated in the interior cavity 110 of the housing 74. FIG. 5 illustrates a vortex 114 that is generated with the mixture of air and media 50 in the interior cavity 110 of the housing 74. The vortex 114 generates a swirling motion of the air and media 50 around the interior cavity 114 whereby the parts 14 are bombarded with the media to remove one or more substances (e.g., paint) from the parts 14.

The angle of the nozzle 42 in the inlet 86 of the housing 74 can be varied to assist in the generation of the vortex 114. The air pressure delivered by the nozzle 42 causes the air and media to be released through the at least one outlet 94 at the opposite end of the inlet 86. The amount of air pressure needed to generate the vortex 114 and remove the substance(s) from the parts 14 can depend on the size of the nozzle 42, the size of the housing 74 and interior cavity 110, and the size of the parts 14. A larger nozzle 42 is generally capable of delivering the air pressure at a higher level than a smaller nozzle 42. Similarly, a larger housing 74 and interior cavity 110 generally require a higher level of air pressure than a smaller housing 74 and interior cavity 110.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of an embodiment of a method of removing a substance from a part 14. The user positions (at 200) the part(s) 14 in the interior cavity 110 of the device 70 and secures (at 204) the first cap 102 (and second cap, if necessary) to the housing 74. The user then positions (at 208) the device 70 in the interior cavity 22 of the blasting cabinet 10 and closes the cabinet door 26. The user places (at 212) his hands and arms in the gloves 38 to hold or support the device 70. The user inserts (at 216) the nozzle 42 into the inlet 86 of the housing 74. The user then activates (at 220) the air pressure source 46 and media source 54 by depressing the foot pedal 62. The nozzle 42 provides (at 224) a mixture of air and media to the interior cavity 110 of the housing 74. The air flow generates (at 228) a vortex 114 in the interior cavity 110 whereby the swirling effect of the media 50 removes (at 232) the substance(s) from the part(s) 14.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart of another embodiment of a method of removing a substance from a part 14. The user positions (at 236) the part(s) 14 in the interior cavity 110 of the device 70 and secures (at 240) the first cap 102 (and second cap, if necessary) to the housing 74. The user inserts (at 244) a nozzle from an air pressure source into the inlet 86 of the housing 74. The user then activates (at 248) the air pressure source and a media source. The nozzle provides (at 252) a mixture of air and media to the interior cavity 110 of the housing 74. The air flow generates (at 256) a vortex 114 in the interior cavity 110 whereby the swirling effect of the media removes (at 260) the substance(s) from the part(s) 14.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims. 

1. A container for sandblasting, comprising: a housing; a cap removably secured to the housing, the cap substantially sealing the housing and defining an interior cavity to receive a part to be sandblasted; an inlet in the housing, the inlet adapted to receive a nozzle inserted substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing; and at least one outlet sized to retain the part and to allow an abrasive material to exit the housing.
 2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a handle.
 3. The container of claim 1, wherein the cap is screwed onto the housing.
 4. The container of claim 1, wherein the cap is hinged to the housing and secured to the housing by a clasp.
 5. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet is positioned on the cap.
 6. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet is positioned on the housing.
 7. The container of claim 1, wherein the housing is cylindrical.
 8. The container of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first end and a second end, the first end positioned a distance from the second end, the inlet positioned at the first end and the at least one outlet positioned at the second end.
 9. The container of claim 1, wherein the nozzle delivers media to the interior cavity.
 10. The container of claim 9, wherein the nozzle can be directed to generate a vortex in the interior cavity.
 11. An apparatus for removing a substance from a surface of a part, the apparatus comprising: a cylindrical housing having a closed end and an open end, the open end including external screw threads; a cap having internal screw threads and configured to screw onto the housing and defining an interior cavity; an inlet in the housing, the inlet adapted to receive a nozzle inserted substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing, the nozzle adapted to provide an air and media mixture flow to the interior cavity; a plurality of outlets positioned on the cap and configured to restrain the part, the plurality of outlets further configured to allow the air and media mixture to exit the housing; a handle connected to the housing; and wherein the flow of the mixture of air and media creates a vortex within the housing.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is used with a blasting cabinet.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the inlet is positioned on the housing adjacent the closed end.
 14. A method of removing a substance from a surface of a part, the method comprising: placing the part in a container having an inlet and at least one outlet; inserting a nozzle substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container into the inlet; directing a flow of air and media, from the nozzle, into the inlet; generating, by the flow of air and media, a vortex within the container; striking the part with the air and media; ejecting the air and media from the container through the at least one outlet; and removing the part from the container.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising generating a vortex of the air and media within the container.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising attaching a cap to the container.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising restraining the part in the container with the cap.
 18. The method of claim 14, further comprising removing a cap from the container.
 19. The method of claim 14, further comprising moving the part, by the air and media, randomly within the container.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein directing the flow of air and media from the nozzle determines the shape of the vortex. 